Water Damaged Laminate

There are a number of signs that point to your floor being water damaged including bending or cracking.

Water damaged laminate.

When laminate gets saturated by water it absorbs the moisture which in turn breaks down the structure of the flooring. If you spill some water on laminate flooring but promptly wipe it up the floor will suffer no damage. These are the laminate planks you should be focusing on. Make a note of or flag each board that stands out to you for the next step.

If it s installed properly laminate flooring can stand up to occasional spills that are removed quickly. Water damage to laminate flooring is a common occurrence seen by laminate flooring inspectors. Tiles can also be pushed apart by water damage. Direct water damage caused by improper or unprofessional installations is a different matter that can lead to unexpected expenses.

Water on top of laminate flooring laminate flooring can get wet but only the top. Laminate flooring s sides open seams damaged areas and bottoms can never get wet. Unfortunately the situation changes if and when flooding occurs. Water damage laminate floor when it comes to water damage laminate floor coverings often fare better than other types of flooring.

Mop up standing water quickly as water can migrate into laminate s seams. If laminate flooring becomes saturated with water it tends to warp quickly. Flooding or other significant water damage is a different story. Just about any way you can get water onto many laminate floors seems to result water damage to many of these laminate floors.

Damaged planks typically will have some level of discoloration and can sometimes buckle and become misshapen after being exposed to any amount of water. Go over every tile individually when you check. Water damaged boards can t be fixed but they can be replaced. In most cases you will need to use a chisel and hammer to start pulling away the damaged pieces without ruining the surrounding surface.

The cause of this damage is often such things as a flood slow leak from plumbing improper maintenance and spills. Laminate flooring is technically resistant to water damage. However if laminate flooring is submerged or stays in contact with water long enough it can swell and break down. When laminate becomes supersaturated with water it starts to absorb the moisture which breaks down the composition of the laminate material.

The next step is to remove the tongue part of the laminate board using a knife.